Despite releasing a year after the Xbox 360, the PS3 is beginning to close the gap in terms of global sales. According to the EEDAR, the Xbox 360 currently stands at fifty five million consoles sold worldwide, with the PS3 just five million behind. Though neither console is showing signs of slowing down, PS3 sales have began to catch up to the Xbox 360 at an ever rising rate, with the console even outselling its HD counterpart throughout most of 2011.

"If one looks at the total amount of sales through the first six months of 2011, the PlayStation 3 has sold about ten per cent more than the Xbox 360, worldwide, so the PlayStation 3 is definitely gaining ground. The Xbox 360 does have a five per cent lead over the PlayStation 3 worldwide, a minimal difference."

The Ps3 sales increase can be attributed to many factors, such as the increase in exclusive content and games for the PS3, and most notably the 2009 price drop which saw PS3 sales soar as an affordable, Blu-ray capable home entertainment platform.

Jesse Divinch from EEDAR believes that despite the Xbox 360 having a five percent lead, the actual user base is much closer, as Xbox 360 users have a higher chance of needing to replace their console.

"We do know based on our consumer surveys that the replacement rate among Xbox 360s are slightly higher than the PlayStation 3 (the Nintendo DS is the highest, as it is expected for portable electronics). The PlayStation 3 was a tad bit more technologically future proof from the start compared to the Xbox 360. I think if you weigh in those factors, the race is neck and neck."

Though the PS3 has been gaining momentum since the price drop to $300, the Xbox 360 still hasn't lost any steam. The release of Kinect helped Microsoft gain an increase in revenue and its sales will undoubtedly increase during the fall and winter seasons as Microsoft preparest to release Gears of War 3, a Gears of War 3 themed Xbox 360, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary as well as a Star Wars themed Xbox 360.

The PS3 also has a great year ahead of it with its own share of heavy hitters include Uncharted 3, Resistance 3, and Twisted Metal. It's really anyone's guess as to who will come out on top at this point as both consoles have a tremendous amount of momentum going forward, though Billy Pidgeon of M2 Research believes that if Microsoft were to release a new console, it could cause a spike in PS3 sales.

"Should Microsoft release a successor to Xbox 360 and shift the pipeline for hardcore games over to the new consoles, that would be a possible scenario by which PS3 could bypass Xbox 360's active installed base, this scenario would give PS3 the opportunity to soak up the hardcore sector."

Do you think the PS3 will eventually overtake the Xbox 360 in global sales?

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Source: Eurogamer